Welcome back to BeREAL! Today, Diana and Ednesha are alone to tackle the very pressing issue of COVID depression and what the Delta variant means for the future of mental health.
The therapists begin the episode by discussing the mental health trends they’ve seen over the past year, but also over the past few months. They talk about why many people have fallen into a mental space where they would prefer to stay with their pain rather than push through it. This is because in times like these, it is hard to imagine what the freedom on the other side will look like. To many, the unknown is scarier than the pain they are currently facing.
Next, they discuss the importance of finding someone to talk to when you are experiencing COVID depression. If you don’t talk to others, you can become set in your emotions and become unwilling to change your perspective. Hearing another person’s viewpoint can shift your perspective while also not trying to ignore the past. Here, the two take a slight detour to talk about why moms get harsh treatment when they are discussed in therapy sessions. Moms are put on such a high pedestal in society that it is almost impossible for them to achieve all that is expected of them.
Getting back on track, Diana and Ednesha give stories about what they have said to patients in the past who had become too stuck in their perspectives. Many people would excuse their negativity by claiming that that is “just who they are.” However, Ednesha points out that you can always choose to be someone different, to act differently. Having this mindset will prevent you from growing from your experiences.
To finish off the episode, the duo tell listeners about where therapy comes into the picture in situations like these. It can be extremely difficult to actually hear someone when they are challenging your viewpoint. That is why it is important that there is a trust built between a therapist and a patient. This trust doesn’t come in one session, but through a long, sustained relationship. Only then will patients actually listen to their clinicians and together they can shift the patient’s perspectives. Therapists are also there to help quell your inner critic. Many people are harder on themselves than they are on others, and that is especially true for people who are experiencing COVID depression. Therapists help you be reasonable and forgiving of your own actions.
Thank you so much for tuning into BeREAL! Be on the lookout for an all new episode next Tuesday. In the meantime, make sure to check out last week’s episode on podcast creation.
For more information on BeREAL (our mental wellness podcast) or BeWELL (our therapy practice in New York City and Hoboken, NJ) visit the links below:
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